Cost of Living and Merit Raises
Barbara Altmann, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Professor of French
March 5, 2013 (Corrected on July 25, 2013)
Recruiting and retaining high-caliber faculty and staff at the University of Oregon is paramount, which is why the university announced a package of cost-of-living and merit pay increases today, including a FY 2013 cost-of-living increase retroactive to January 1 of this year. The 1.5 percent, 2013 COLA allowance applies to all unrepresented UO faculty. Looking ahead, the University’s FY2014 program includes another 1.5 percent cost-of-living allowance along with a 2 percent merit/equity salary pool available for additional merit/equity increases. Decisions regarding merit or equity raises will be made at the department level and according to a timeline determined by the university. The FY 2014 increases will take effect July 1, 2013.
The University is proposing to extend this same salary increase to faculty represented by United Academics. Typically, negotiated salary adjustments for represented faculty would not be implemented until the University and United Academics completed negotiations and reached agreement on a full contract. Although negotiations are moving forward, it could be some time before an agreement is in place. For that reason, if United Academics accepts the offer, the University will implement the same cost of living and merit/equity increase programs for represented faculty now so that all university faculty can realize these increases immediately. If United Academics declines the offer, the University will negotiate in good faith with the Union over salary increases as part of the ongoing negotiations.
Other universities and colleges in Oregon are, or will soon be, offering similar cost-of-living allowances on their campuses. UO leadership is well aware of the need to make periodic adjustments of our salary schedules and is making the offer to assure all faculty a 2013 adjustment. The common goal is for our university to remain as competitive as possible so we can attract and retain talented people.
Questions?
If you have any questions about the contract negotiations, please contact me at baltmann@uoregon.edu or (541) 346-2172.
